By Fai Cassian Ndi
- Adopt
Sensitization/ Community Mobilization Strategies
The Cameroon Baptist Convention-CBC Health
Board has teamed up with the print and audiovisual journalists in the North West
Region to intensify it’s strive for a zero HIV infection, zero discrimination
and to introduce the Option B+ (another form of medication in the prevention of
mother to child transmission of HIV) which Cameroon has opted for in its 2015
health policy). Addressing the media at the CBC Conference hall on April 24,
2014, the Business Manager of the project, Monju Johnson noted with a lot of
satisfaction that the successes of the project have ignited hopes in families. Monju
Johnson, who represented the CBC Director of Health Services Dr. Tih Pius
Muffih continued that the
community-based Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission of HIV Program in
the North West and South West Regions of Cameroon which is funded under the
President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief –PEPFAR (through the Centers for
Disease Control and Prevention-CDC, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, the
Elizabeth Glacer Pediatric AIDS Foundation) stands the chance of increasing
HIV-free survival and reducing HIV-related maternal and child mortality by
increasing PMTCT uptake in the two regions. To this, he added that it is hoped
that by 2016 90% of pregnant women and HIV-exposed infants will be protected.
With these positive results, he reiterated that the HIV-Free North West and
South West Project has also reinforced
the Cameroon-USA government partnership, and it these positive results “the US
Government is coming back fully” to support projects in Cameroon. In his
concluding statement on why journalists should partner with the project for it
to attain it goal in order to rescue humanity, he expressed gratitude for “we
are doing it for humanity”.
On his part, Nkouh Godlove who presented a
paper on the progression of HIV in
human system, ARV intervention and consequences of defaulting drugs told
journalists that the prevalent rate in Cameroon is about 7.9% and variedly
distributed between the age ranges 15-41 years. According to Nkuoh Godlove, the
prevalent rate in the North West stands at 6.3%, the South West Region at 5.2%,
while the South Region has the highest in the country with 7.3%, and the
Extreme North has the lowest with 1.2%. He revealed that by 1981, 14 million
children were orphans in Sub Saharan Africa due to AIDS. He however noted with
optimism that anti-retroviral drugs have reduced the number of people living
with AIDS. Oral, anal and vaginal sex, he noted are responsible for 90% of the
infections. Nkuoh Godlove also revealed to journalists that statistics show
that 90% of the infections in infants are through mother to child, 5-10% during
pregnancy, 15-20% during labour, and 5-25% during breastfeeding. In order to remedy the situation, he said
that the HIV-free North West/ South West Project is working in the key domains
of PMTCT, HIV counseling and testing, the administration of ART( Treatment and
prophylaxis), low risk obstetrical practices, psychosocial support to the
infected woman and her family, nutritional support( infant feeding options).
These he ended are the success areas.
Orientations
of the Project
 |
| Kuni Esther presenting the results of the project |
In her presentation,
Kuni Esther, the Coordinator of the project painted a vivid result-oriented
report which specified the project’s output and partnership with service
providers, the media, community leaders, religious bodies and government
services. She however revealed that it is thanks to the engagement of others
that the fruitful partnership yielded good results given that within the
project scope more community mobilization components were engaged to make sure
that all pregnant women go for early Antenatal care-ANC and PMTCT services. According
to Kuni Esther PMTCT has scaled up its sites in the North West and South West
Regions to 591(341sites in the North West and 250 sites in the South West
Region). Besides, the project also trained 957 service providers who are actually
providing PMTCT services in the two regions as well as empowered 370 peer
educators, 70 MCH aides, trained 71 church leaders, and 116 Muslim leaders who are all in the field carrying out
sensitization on ANC and following-up PMTCT clients. More so, the project also acquired
35 motorbikes to ease field activities, empowered District staff and PMTCT
coordinators on supply chain management, installed 80 CD4 machines (45 in the
North West and 35 in the South West), and during year two of the project, 16
facilities were also dotted with short message service machines which prints
PCR results on the spot.
She also told
journalists that the CBC Health Board is piloting option B+ treatment regimen
in two districts namely Bamenda in the North West and Kumba in the South West
Region. She called on journalists to team up with the project so as to pass the
information to the various communities.
Test and Treat (Option B+ Regimen)
 |
| Lem Edith presenting Option B+ |
Lem Edith in
presenting the Option B+, very sounded optimistic adding that this universal
life long ART for all pregnant and breastfeeding women regardless of clinical
and or immunological stage is the best because no CD4 count is needed to start
treatment. She said that the drug is more advantageous because it is simple,
only on drug a day and leads to optimal reduction of HIV Mother To Child
Transmission-MTCT. Above all, it prevents HIV transmission to uninfected sexual
partners and also provides better opportunities for ART integration in a MNCH
set up. While introducing the Option B+, Lem Edith called on journalists to
sensitize the public on the new regimen which the CBC Health Board is
implementing its pilot phase in Bamenda and Kumba. Accordingly, Lem Edith
explained that the test and treat (Option B+) is the best for Cameroon given
that the problems of obtaining CD4 Counts, the lack of skilled personnel to
interpret results will be overcome. Drawing her inspiration from Rwnada, Uganda
and Malawi where the Option B+ has generated very positive results, she
emphasized that this regimen is easy and reduces transmission from mother to
child. According to statistics presented, there are 12 sites in the North West
Region and 10 sites in the South West Region. She also revealed that of the 438
women enrolled in the pilot phase, 184 switched from the old regimen while
34others discontinued the uptake. The project she added has made provisions for
the estimated 600 women for the next 18 months.
 |
| Alphonse Abanda |
On the other hand,
the Monitoring and Evaluation officer of the project presented very convincing
statistics of the project from year one to year two. One thing was obvious that
there is still need for journalists to sensitize the public so that the project
meets up with its target. Besides, it was evidently clear that men hardly
accompany their wives for Antenatal care.
The project
Documentation Supervisor, Alphonse Abanda while using a participatory approach
in introducing the role of the media in the project highlighted some common
errors in communication. In his assessment of the radio drama (talk-shows) he
coordinated experience sharing and ignited suggestions from participants to
better-up sensitization. It was suggested that the project could equally
sponsor call-in programmes, radio interactive programmes. However prospects as
to whether the project would not institute some sort of a “Health Messenger”
for the print media to carryout banners on awareness creation abound high.
When News Breaks Out, We Break In. (The 2014 Bloggies Finalist)
